In the Houston area it was a sunny day and I was in my Dads office looking through some old thing. I picked up a box and found a photo of me and my old dog Duke high 5ing. It took me back to the days when he was still around.
Duke was a good dog, a huge boxer with a ton of strength. If he got mad he looked as if he were part Pit Bull! He was my best four legged friend back then. We used to play in the back yard together and give each other high 5s. Back then he would go where I would go, and do what I did. He was great to have around but sadly he had to die.
Like it just happed yesterday I remember how it all happened. My Dad and I were in the back yard tossing the baseball to pass the time. Throwing like we were in MLB training camp for the past hour we decided to take a brake over high 5s. As I was walking to the patio Duke caught my eye and I wondered if he could high 5s? On a mission I walked over to Duke put my hand down and said High 5. Gust like a rocket he bolted into the air. Although he missed It was a great jump, he tried and tried with a look on his face that said,” I can do it! I can do it” With all his might he jump straight as a 2 by 4 and hit my hand with his paw. From then on we gave each other High5s every time we saw each other. One day after school I went to play with Duke but I could not find him in the back yard. Shouting in my loudest voice a called for him, he did not come. Running like the cops were on my tail I sprinted up to my mom and told her that Duke was missing. She smiled and told me that he was at the vet with my dad. I asked if he was ok but the look on my Moms face did not look to reassuring. Caner, cancer is what she told me my four legged friend had. But that was not the worst part; the worst part was that after his treatment he had to stay kenneled at my Dad work. …. Soon my dad was home and announced that Dukes Cancer treatment would be in the morning. Sing with relief I went to my room to go to bed. Net morning my Dad was on his way to take Duke to the vet, but he never made it that far. All curled up in a ball in the corner of the kennel was Duke. Dead Duke. Heavy hearted my dad brought Duke home and told us the horrible thing that had happened. My eyes burst into tears when he said Duke was dead. Yes, it was sad that he had to go to the big dog park in the sky, but Duke will always live on in my heart.
R.I.P. Duke Fontenot